Republican gubernatorial candidates Scott McInnis and Dan Maes on Monday downplayed the impact of Tom Tancredo’s emergence as a third-party candidate in the race, even though political observers have predicted he will split the GOP vote.

“Tom is Tom,” said McInnis during a 9News/Denver Post debate. “Hopefully, by Election Day, conservatives in this state, moderates in this state . . . will vote on the Republican side of the ticket.”

Maes questioned Tancredo’s conservative bona fides.

“People think he’s a conservative because of his strong stance on illegal immigration, but once you get beyond that part of Tom, I really challenge people to look at his voting record and see how conservative he really is,” he said.

Tancredo has said both Republicans — McInnis embroiled in a plagiarism scandal and Maes fined $17,500 for campaign-finance violations — are incapable of beating Democrat John Hickenlooper in the general election. The former Republican congressman switched parties and announced last week he is running for governor as the American Constitutional Party candidate.

McInnis and Maes were asked questions submitted from Post readers and 9News viewers. They addressed a range of subjects, including recent problems faced by the candidates and what they would do about Colorado’s budget problems.

McInnis, who admitted that work he submitted to the Hasan Foundation was plagiarized, has said he would return the $300,000 he was paid to the group. When asked by a reader specifically when he would repay the money, he said: “We will get that done in the very near future.”

Maes was asked about his large fine, as well as being delinquent on business filings and a homeowners association payment.

“We have a great track record, and these are little things people are trying to pick at,” he answered.

Both candidates were asked about their favorite and least-favorite legislation that emerged from the statehouse in the past three years.

They agreed the worst was the body’s elimination of many tax credits and exemptions earlier this year.

Maes said his favorite measure was Senate Bill 191, the teacher-tenure measure, which revamped how teachers’ performance is reviewed.

McInnis, a former congressman, chose a bill he sponsored while in Washington, D.C., which gave the Great Sand Dunes national-park status.

McInnis said he would save money by going to every agency with a “zero budget” and “scrub every agency for waste.”

Maes said he would “get rid of nonessential employees” and scrutinize the governor’s energy office for savings.

Both said they opposed any increases in taxes or fees.

The 9News/Denver Post debate will air on “YourShow” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday on MY20 and Comcast Channel 3.

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